Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

William Atkinson Jones, III

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Saint John's Church Cemetery

Posthumous
Award

Born:May 31, 1922 at Norfolk, VA

Entered
Service in the US Air Force from Charlottesville, VA

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Vietnam War For heroism
September 01, 1968 at Dong Hoi, North Vietnam

Died:November
15, 1969 at the age of 47

Lieutenant
Colonel Jones was flying an A-1H Skyraider on a rescue mission
on September 1, 1968 in search of a down U.S. pilot near Don
Hoi, North Vietnam. Although his aircraft was hit repeatedly by
enemy fire, he continued his search until he sighted the
survivor. Disregarding his own safety, Colonel Jones then
attacked a nearby enemy position; his aircraft was again hit
destroying the pilot's ejection system and causing the cockpit
to burst into flames. Colonel Jones attempted to transmit the
location of the survivor, but his calls were blocked by friendly
transmissions urging him to bail out. Despite intense pain from
multiple burns, he elected to fly his damaged aircraft back to
base, where, on the operating table, he reported the survivor's
position. As a result, the downed pilot was rescued later in the
day.